Part 14 (2/2)

Another event of this period was the Tichborne trial, but though Burton was subpoenaed by the claimant, his evidence really a.s.sisted the other side.

”I understand,” began his interlocutor, ”that you are the Central African traveller.”

”I have been to Africa,” modestly replied Burton.

”Weren't you badly wounded?” [253]

”Yes, in the back, running away.”

His ident.i.ty being established, Burton gave his evidence without further word fence. ”When I went out to Brazil,” he said, ”I took a present from Lady Tichborne for her son, but being unable to find him, [254] I sent the present back. When returning from America, I met the claimant, and I recognise him simply as the man I met. That is all.” Burton, like others, always took it for granted that the claimant obtained most of his information respecting the Tichbornes from Bogle, the black man, who had been in the service of the family.

68. Khamoor at the Theatre.

In some unpublished letters of Mrs. Burton, written about this time, we get additional references to Khamoor, and several of them are amusing.

Says Mrs. Burton in one of them, [255] ”Khamoor was charming at the theatre. I cried at something touching, and she, not knowing why, flung herself upon my neck and howled. She nearly died with joy on seeing the clown, and said, 'Oh, isn't this delightful. What a lovely life!' She was awfully shocked at the women dancing with 'naked legs,' and at all the rustic swains and girls embracing each other.”

In January 1872, the Burtons were at Knowsley, [256] the Earl of Derby's, whence Mrs. Burton wrote an affectionate letter to Miss Stisted. She says, [257] ”I hope you are taking care of yourself. Good people are scarce, and I don't want to lose my little pet.” Later, Burton visited Lady Stisted at Edinburgh, and about that time met a Mr.

Lock, who was in need of a trusty emissary to report on some sulphur mines in Iceland, for which he had a concession. The two came to terms, and it was decided that Burton should start in May. He spent the intervening time at Lord Gerard's, [258] and thence Mrs. Burton wrote to Miss Stisted [259] saying why she did not accompany Burton in his visit to his relatives. She says, ”I hope you all understand that no animosity keeps me from Edinburgh. I should have been quite pleased to go if Richard had been willing, but I think he still fancies that Maria (Lady Stisted) would rather not see me, and I am quite for each one doing as he or she likes... The Bird sends his fond love and a chirrup.”

Chapter XVI. 4th June 1872-24th October 1872, In Iceland

Bibliography:

36. Zanzibar: City, Island and Coast. 2 vols., 1872. 37. Unexplored Syria. 2 vols., 1872. 38. On Human Remains, etc., from Iceland, 1872.

69. In Edinburgh Again, 4th June 1872.

In May, Burton was back again in Edinburgh, preparing for the Iceland journey. He took many walks down Princes Street and up Arthur's Seat with Lady Stisted and his nieces, and ”he was flattered,” says Miss Stisted, ”by the kindness and hospitality with which he was received.

The 93rd Highlanders, stationed at the Castle, entertained in genuine Highland fas.h.i.+on; and at our house he met most of the leading Scotch families who happened to be lingering in the northern capital.” Lord Airlie, the High Commissioner, held brilliant receptions at Holyrood.

There were gay scenes--women in their smartest gowns, men wearing their medals and ribands. General Sir H. Stisted was there in his red collar and cross and star of the Bath. Burton ”looked almost conspicuous in unadorned simplicity.” On 4th June [260] Burton left for Iceland. The parting from his friends was, as usual, very hard. Says Miss Stisted, ”His hands turned cold, his eyes filled with tears.” Sir W. H. Stisted accompanied him to Granton, whence, with new hopes and aspirations, he set sail. Spectacularly, Iceland--Ultima Thule--as he calls it--was a disappointment to him. ”The giddy, rapid rivers,” were narrow brooks, Hecla seemed but ”half the height of Hermon,” the Great Geyser was invisible until you were almost on the top of it. Its voice of thunder was a mere hiccough. Burton, the precise ant.i.thesis of old Sir John de Mandeville, was perhaps the only traveller who never told ”travellers'

tales.” Indeed, he looked upon Sir John as a disgrace to the cloth; though he sometimes comforted himself with the reflection that most likely that very imaginative knight never existed. But he thoroughly enjoyed these Icelandic experiences, for, to use one of his own phrases, the power of the hills was upon him. With Mr. Lock he visited the concession, and on his way pa.s.sed through a village where there was a fair, and where he had a very narrow escape. A little more, we are told, and a hideous, snuffy, old Icelandic woman would have kissed him. In respect to the survey, the ma.s.s of workable material was enormous.

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